The Rise of Skywalker (writing prompts!)
If you’re reading this right now it means you have some writing to do. Even if you think you don’t have time today, I bet you can find ten or fifteen minutes. Let’s do this.
Your Daily Creative Inspiration
Before we get to today’s prompts, I want to share these inspiring words from the filmmaker David Cronenberg.
“It's dangerous to be an artist. That's what we talk about in Naked Lunch. It's dangerous on many different levels. Politically it can be dangerous, but psychologically it can be quite dangerous too. You make yourself very vulnerable. You put yourself out there and of course you open yourself up to criticism and attack. And so you have to be strong if you're going to make movies. But once you accept that movies can come from anywhere, that a movie can come from a dream or a conversation or a newspaper article, or it could be based on real people, you can expand that and say it could come from a work of art that someone has already done. It could be a play, it could be a novel, it could be a remake of another movie, and of course I've done all those things, and in each case the satisfaction comes from making a good movie; not from where the movie comes from. I don't have to question it if I find the story interesting.”
Your Daily Writing Prompt
Today’s prompts were inspired by the Star Wars movie, The Rise of Skywalker.
EXERCISE #1: “Alone, never have you been.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about something (a person, a place, an activity) that brings you comfort and makes you feel less alone. Pretend you’re an anthropologist; study this person, place, or thing. What makes them comforting? Dissect how they work.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist is wallowing in being alone... Make it go on longer than it should, make it uncomfortable... Then let another character break that solitude.
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate three distinct sounds.
EXERCISE #2: “We’ve passed on all we know. A thousand generations live in you now.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Think of a dead relative who you had a connection with. In what ways does this person live on in you?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, pick a character from your protagonist’s childhood – a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, someone they had a bond with – and freewrite about their relationship. What did your protagonist learn from this person?
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate an object that belonged to this person.
EXERCISE #3: “People keep telling me they know me. No one does.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about one of your secrets. Something you’re embarrassed to admit.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where your protagonist confides in another character. Start with the words “You don’t really know me...”
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate a repeated physical movement.
EXERCISE #4: “I see through the cracks in your mask.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about someone you’re close to and a metaphorical mask that they wear.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a seduction scene. Your protagonist can sense that the other character is hiding something. Let them try different tactics to get this other character to remove their mask.
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate a piece of music.
EXERCISE #5: “A Wookiee tends to stand out in a crowd.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Imagine you met yourself at a party. What would your first impression be?
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a scene where another character talks to your protagonist about the first time they met and a misconception they had about them. How has their relationship evolved since then?
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate a metaphor involving food.
EXERCISE #6: “My flying days are long gone.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Write about something you used to be passionate about that you’re DONE WITH.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, write a monologue where your protagonist talks with passion about something they don’t (or can’t) do anymore.
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate one or more of these words: ache, rush, need, wonder
EXERCISE #7: “He’s not stupid enough to come back here.”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Make a quick list of at least ten stupid things you’ve done, then pick one to write about in more detail.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, make a list of five stupid things your character has done, then pick one and write that scene.
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate pain.
EXERCISE #8: “We’ve only got eight hours left. So what are we gonna do?”
PERSONAL PROMPT: Let’s say you found out today is your last day of life. What do you do? Be as specific as possible. Imagine at least one conversation you would want to have.
NARRATIVE PROMPT: If you’re writing a narrative, imagine the end of your protagonist’s story. What do you want for them? Freewrite about what you hope they’ve accomplished.
RANDOM BONUS ELEMENT: Incorporate something broken.
Your Daily Recommendation
I’m obsessed with 4321 by Paul Auster. It’s a lonnnnng book, so it’s a bit intimidating, but by the time it’s over you’ll wish it was a thousand pages longer. It tells the story of one man’s life if it went in four different directions. It’s brilliant. Read it.
Thank You For Being Here
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